Ogre Lord: Prologue

[Bullroarer]

Since the coming of the orcs and ogres to the world of draenor, many ogres were mutated into two head monstrosities. The single headed ogres had become very rare in the lands of Azeroth, but they still thrived in hidden forest. Looked down upon by their orcish brethren and two-headed cousins, these ogres stayed away from all others, until the coming of the humans.

The humans came and began butchering the outnumbered ogre magi. Unable to withstand the oncoming force the ogres faced thier death with honor and pride. They died down to the last male ogre, fighting to protect their homeland. No one saw the new born covered in a roll of cloth. As the village burned and some of the youngsters ran with their mothers, the child wailed. The village was scorching all around, but still the child remained. It was only by luck that an enormous bat was flying through the sky with a hooded rider. The brown beast landed upon the earth with blazing red eyes. The hooded rider got off his mount and began to search around until he found the bundle. The ogre child stopped wailing as the rider mounted his bat and flew through the night. The stars watched them from above as silent spectres.

[Flak]

Ooo, interesting. Seems like one of those over done 'grow up on your own and find out who you are' kind of stories, but then, HC is one of those so I won't say anything. Nicely written. Keep going.

[Shindog]

I see a lot of potential in this. You could really capitolize on the old theme Flak mentioned and make it work. I'd recommend trying to stay away from some of the old cliches involved with the theme though. Focus on what makes your story different and you'll have a winner.

I do like the imagry of the hooded rider on the bat. I'd read more just to learn about him.

[Flak]

Yes, listen to the might Shindog.

*bows*

[Inquisistor7]

I too must concur. For, though interesting, the story could be marred by cliche happenings.

[Bullroarer]

“Professor Tabernacle, Professor Tabernacle the castle is under attack.” A tiny gnomish girl with braided brown hair rushed down the halls of Khaz Larandar. Her name was Gretel, one of the many gnomes studying in the university along with several others at the university. Her heart was pumping with blood. If she had been much older, she was sure her very vessels would have exploded. Her fear was her only instincts.

“Calm down child, what attack are you talking about? I don’t hear any artillery.” An elderly gnome answered back. Professor Tabernacle was the lead professor at Khaz Larandar. He stood about three feet in height, about three inches taller than Gretel. He had a calm face and a bright green tunic. Students always turned to him advice and warmth. The elderly gnome had a soft heart for the youth. Seeing young Gretel so distraught made him slightly confused.

“There is an ogre outside the castle walls!” She screamed as though one of her lungs were about to burst. She didn’t seem to make any sense to the professor. Only the brightest of gnomes, dwarves and occasional elves were able to enter the university. One had to either be unbelievably rich or incredibly smart. An ogre at the door probably meant trouble. The professor grabbed a small pistol from his table and walked with Gretel to the balcony of the castle.

He looked down below and sure enough there was an ogre standing outside the door. The strangest and oddest type of ogre a person could imagine. He wore a pair of spectacle lenses over his eyes. His hair was not tied back in a ponytail, but rather slicked back with oil like a rich man’s son. He was very husky and fat like most ogres, but he seemed less with a nice blue uniform with copper buttons. The ogre also had giant shoes made of well polished leather and a satchel over his back. The ogre was actually much shorter than a normal ogre. He was about the height of a normal five foot human, but much broader. He probably weighed around three hundred and twenty pounds thought Tabernacle after he judged the ogres build

“Who are you, ogre? What foul business do you have here on our lands?” Professor Tabernacle said from the balcony.

“No foul business sir. My name is Mort Thresh, I have been sent here by approval of my school teacher Archmage Flindorphin. He has given me permission to study hear.” Mort replied in a polite voice.

“If you get accepted in this school then my wife’s a bloody night elf princess.” The professor answered with a chuckled.

“Well then I guess I should bow down to you if your wife is royalty, because my scroll of admission is right here in my pocket.” Mort answered in very serious manner as he drew a scroll from his pocket. He tossed the scroll to the professor with a big toss. The professor grabbed it and opened the scroll. To his amazement the admission form was authentic and signed by a genuine archmage with a royal seal. His mouth just hung there for several uncomfortable minutes. No one in there right mind could send an ogre to such a prestigious school. Ogres were usually too dimwitted for such things.

“May I enter now sir?” The ogre’s voice echoed.

“Don’t just stand there Gretel, let the ogre in.” The professor shouted and the gnome fled the scene. The professor left the balcony a few moments later and sat down in his chair. He muttered, “An ogre in school of higher level thinking. This job is going to be the death of me.”

[Bullroarer]

The walls of the grim granite prison are of nuisance to me. The students who come to the school with me are just as annoying and cruel. I do not know why Vargas sent to me that archmage to learn and earn a diploma to this place. I never had much luck with others my own age. Troll parents though I was stupid, orcish parents believed I was drinking demon blood, human parents thought I was violent, elvish parents thought I was some sort of animal. The only person who had every really treated me with any respect was Vargas, though he usually kept hidden. He hides his face from me, but somehow I can sense him without even looking.

I had spent about six months in the school, my grades were well done. Sometimes the teachers would look at my essays much more thoroughly than other students. For the slightest mistakes, my grade could be changed from a twenty to an eighteen. I believe the teachers are actually trying to make sure that I fail. I do not really blame them, for I stand much larger than anyone in the school and I am the only one with tusks.

“So you’re the man people call Thresh?” A small pipsqueak voice said beside my table as I ate a piece of scrumptious beef. Whoever it was obviously had much courage. Very few people ever disturb me while I eating. I do not know why, but when I am disturbed in eating my food, my very blood begins to boil. I turned around to see the tiniest gnome a person could ever see. The average gnome stood either three to two feet, but this person was almost a foot and three quarters. He was shorter than my knee. He had a red goatee and fiery red hair as well as a mage’s cloth.

“Yes, my name is Mort Thresh.” I said quietly as I chewed my meal. I decide not to pound the little creature, due to his unbelievable short stature.

“Well Morty, my name Fedor LeBanner and it is just your luck that I want to eat lunch with you today.” The gnome said in a cheery smile, but I could sense a hint of deception in his crafty hazelnut eyes.

“Why am I so lucky?” I said with a sigh, I had a feeling the gnome was ruining my day.

“Because I am here to be your friend, do you know how many people in this school would love to be my companion? Practically every female here wants a piece of me. Then I see you here eating all alone, why I just thought that I should pay you a visit.” The young gnome chirped as I turned my face to look at him.

“You’re runt who gets bullied by all the larger students. Even the females choose to make jokes out of you. You are only here so you can have my protection, well forget about it. I came here to learn tactics, construction, metallurgy and business. If you need a bodyguard then find one at a nearby tavern.” I angrily glared at him. The rosy cheeks in his face turned completely pale.

“Come on, give a poor soul a break. I can’t continue to live like this. If you help me now, I will do anything.” The gnome begged.

“Sorry, not interested.” As I picked up my books and began to leave, I noticed one of the elvin girls moving in. Of all the creatures attending the school, the elves probably ranked highest on the student social ladder. The elves usually showed off their height advantage to the gnomes and dwarves as a sign of superiority. A fully grown ogre can stand between seven to nine feet. I was still a young ogre, only five feet in height, but still shorter than most elvin teenage nightelves.

“Hello Lebanner, did you remember my five gold pieces?” She asked in a friendly, yet sarcastic tone. Her name was Nikari, one of the meanest nightelf teenage girls a person could ever imagine. She made the lives of other girls completely miserable with her rumors, gossip and insults. I truly loathed the elf for what kind of person she was.

Lebanner was about to open his money pouch to prevent a beating at the hands of the huge female elf, until I stepped into their path. “I am sorry, but Lebanner requires that money for his classes and nutrition. If you require financial aid, then I suggest you search for profits elsewhere.”

“Stay out of my way ogre.” Her voice became a growl. Her lips became taut and her purple skin turned red with anger. Her green hair flicked a little in outrage and her glowing blue eye seemed to dim with hatred.

“Or what, are you going to ruin my reputation or call one of your friends to defend your honor. Perhaps you plan on giving me a beating just as you planned to give Lebanner. You like to pick on people shorter than you, different than your appearance and not of your species. Well I am shorter than you, I dress differently and I am not of your species. Perhaps I should take Lebanner’s place?” I told her with a tone of rage.

Every nightelf around me seemed to gather behind her back as I finished my speech. Elves were good warriors and many of them looked pretty rough. I personally did not want to ruin the oversized uniform Vargas had bought me from my old school. The elves looked as though they were going to jump me all at once. “You want to mess with all of us?”

“Grrrrrrrrrrr.” I growled in my deep baritone voice like a wolf. Some of the elves quickly bolted away and the rest were a bit intimidated. Nikari gave me look that could have frozen ice and walked away with her pack. As soon as she was gone, practically every dwarf and gnome in the eating room was cheering my name. One moment I was the big monster ogre then next I was the school hero.
I see a lot of potential in this. You could really capitolize on the old theme Flak mentioned and make it work. I'd recommend trying to stay away from some of the old cliches involved with the theme though. Focus on what makes your story different and you'll have a winner. I try to make all my stories unique. Ooo, interesting. Seems like one of those over done 'grow up on your own and find out who you are' kind of stories, but then, HC is one of those so I won't say anything. Nicely written. Keep going. Yes not too many ogre stories I too must concur. For, though interesting, the story could be marred by cliche happenings. Well I try not to make anything cliche.

[Bullroarer]

“Fight, fight, fight, fight.!!!” The school yard was cheering as a big purple fist bludgeoned me in the face. A year had passed since I had saved Fedor Lebanner from getting humiliated, but unfortunately the night elves had not forgotten what I had done. Once again I was the villain in the eyes of the school. Practically everyone was cheering my opponent’s name, except Lebanner the gnome.

“Come on ogre lets see what you got.” The slender elf male said as he took his fighting stance. His fists were clenched upwards while one of his legs was bent. The elf’s style of combat was confusing at the very least. He was very tall even for an elf, but incredibly wiry. He seemed like a living stick. Whirling and spinning like an acrobat he began to advance upon me once more. Without even noticing, I felt the blow of a roundhouse kick right in my jaw.

Stumbling backwards, I began to pant heavily. The creature in front of me had an unbelievable speed advantage. There was absolutely no way I would be able to keep up the same pace as this chicken-legged menaced. I truly did not wish to continue the battle. Actually, I don’t know why I was really fighting in the first place. I raised my hand to stop the match. “I have had enough, I don’t want to continue.”

“Too bad, I want to continue.” Blood dripped from my jaw line as the elf delivered a spinning heel kick to the side of my neck. I felt my vocal chords almost collapsing. I new this battle would be tough, but never to such an extreme. I fell to the mud with the eyes of all my classmates watching me. The whole situation was embarrassing. I could hear their laughter from behind. Growing up as an ogre, I had known laughter my entire life. Most of the time, it was the laughter that hurt. They laughed at me as though I were some stray dog.

“It is strange, I always hear tales of how great ogres are in battle. The tales are obviously exaggerated.” The elf smirked with a cocky smile. His grin made some of the girls sigh and the rest of the crowd roar with applause. At that time I felt as though I did not have single friend in this world. At that moment I gave up hope. What was the point of fighting? The whole world was against me. No matter how hard I studied or tried to fit in, I would always be an ogre to them.

“He has had enough!” Lebanner’s voice came from behind me. The tiny gnome came up to my side. His little body was dwarfed by my immense girth. With all his might he tried to push my belly up. The other creatures in the school yard were all booing Lebanner as he tried to help me. This was the first time one of my peers had gone out of their way to help me. At that moment Lebanner had put himself in my universe. He chose to endure the pain I felt everyday.

“Out of the way gnome or your next.” The big elf male said with a high tone of arrogance. Lebanner let go of my side and turned to face the night elf. Lebanner then made a very rude gesture with of his fingers towards the elf. Practically everyone in the school gasped at once and began gossiping.

“Did you see what Lebanner did?”

“Is he drunk? He must be part dwarf.”

“Lebanner just insulted a night elf.”

“Oh boy, Lebanner is dead meat.”

The insulted night elf seemed filled with rage and hatred. I had never seen a creature so full of malice other than my mentor. The creature before me seemed as though he were about to kill Lebanner. He plucked Lebanner off the ground and the gnome wriggled his tiny feet helplessly. The night elf then drove his knee right into Lebanner’s chest. The little gnome gave a horrible shriek, like a child.

“Graaaaaahhh!” With a blood curdling cry the monster within me finally awoke. The tall night elf saw me with his brilliant glowing blue eyes. I could see the fear going through him at that moment. My body hurtled forward on its own accord, as if I were following some sort of natural instinct. The elf tried to dodge, but my fist struck him so hard that he went tumbling into a crowd of spectators. I even heard the elf’s jaw cracking after my blow.
***

Lebanner and I were in the library two weeks later. My nose and jaw were still bandaged. The pain I felt just talking was simply excruciating. Lebanner had tried one of his spells on me, but unfortunately instead of curing me, he had given me a bad case of diarrhea. As we read our books, I noticed the same male night elf walking up to our desk. I was worried that he may have been looking for a rematch. The elf’s jaw was also bandaged.

“You have a strong southpaw. I have to admit I am impressed.” The elf said.

“What do you want? Have you not caused enough problems?” Lebanner menaced.

“I was talking to Mort. I wish to spar with you are done with school classes. I am training to be a warrior someday. I need a partner worthy of my caliber.” The elf said.

“Sounds fun, I have to say you put up a pretty good fight for an elf. What is your name?” Mort asked.

“Racal Bloodtree, warrior apprentice, I don’t really attend this school, and I only came to see if there was someone good enough to fight me. I apologize for my actions and it would be an honor to spar with you. Not only that, but I admire your caring for your gnomish friend. I wish to become as honorable as both of you.” The elf stated.

That sounds excellent. For the moment would you help us with our research on Elvin history?” Mort asked and Racal joined the two in their studies.

[Inquisistor7]

Aside from some, grammatical errors and that sort of thing, this is good. The story is unique and I can't really complain about how things are going. So please keep it up.

[Silencers]

First you're going on a first person view.

'As we read our books, I noticed the same male night elf walking up to our desk.'

And then you carelessly switched to 3rd person view:

'"What is your name?” Mort asked.'

This is your major weakness here, BR. I noticed this frequently in SotMK, VotNE, and Thunderbird. You seem to be so absorbed in writing you tend to drift off and switch perspectives carelessly. You might want to double check your lines and see if the feel breaks up anywhere.

Typo and a bit of grammar polishing helps, too. You know I always follow your fics, so please trust me on this one, k? :) great job btw, gotta admire your consistency and passion.

[Bullroarer]

I had elf and gnome had been very good friends of mine during my time at this school. My grades were high and my master would soon be calling on me. My master was always calling me. Even when he was not with me, I still feared him. The bitter rain drizzled outside my window as I watched from my cot. I never told anyone, but rain and thunderstorms frighten me. I always imagined Vargas standing beyond the mist upon his giant bat. His burning red eyes staring through me from the shadows of his cloak was a powerful image scratched into the crevasses of my mind.

I can’t take my eyes off the rain. The dismal blackness of the sky illuminated by the flashing of lightning and disturbed by the violent crack of thunder. I could see Vargas in every flash and every drop. The raindrops were as red as his eyes and the lightning outlined the jaws of his winged leviathan. I could see him flying through the storm. His mount screeching as he came closer. His shadow blanketed the sky as well as my soul. Beating through the bloody raindrops and flapping in between the screaming bolts of the heavens, Vargas came. He came right to the window, his breath fogged up the glass and a three-fingered reptilian hand touched the frame.

Vargas spoke to me in his hissing tongue, “Mort, did you see that stink bomb I made for engineering class?”

“Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!” I screamed as my eyes snapped open. Before I could even clear my thoughts I grabbed something by the neck and slammed it into the wall. I was panting as sweat dripped from the pores of my skin.

“Mort it’s me!” My eyes began to see clearer and in front of me was Lebanner, squirming against the wall. I quickly released him and looked through the window. The rain still pattered against the frame, but there was no one through the glass. The only thing staring back through the glass was my own frazzled reflection.

“Mort, you alright.” Lebanner inquired.

“Yes Fedor, I am fine.” I breathed heavily as I sat back down upon my cot. My own mind was playing tricks on me. After three and a half years at this school away from Vargas, my master was still watching me. I turned back to Lebanner, “That is a lie, I am actually not as fine as I presumed.”

“Well what seems to be the matter lad?” Lebanner chirped as he popped himself at my side.

“Lebanner, what if your purpose in life was to do something awful, something that you don’t want to do? What if you had no choice, but to become a monster?” I asked.

“Mort, have you been sipping into the dwarven ale? You’re starting to worry me.” Lebanner asked. The gnome had no idea what I was trying to say. Lebanner was not very good at understanding others. I wonder why I even tried to confide in him now.

“Nothing, I just have not been resting.” I lay back on my cot.

“Well next time you have a nightmare, try not to kill the little people.” Lebanner joked.

“Skrrriiyyyyyaaaahhh!!!” A shrilling moan came through the window and I sat right back up.

“Mort, could you at least go five seconds without having a nightmare?” Lebanner came back into the room lazily.

“That was not me, somebody must be out outside.” I quickly got back up and put my heavy ogre-sized cloak.

“This late at night? In this kind of weather? Mort, you need to go back to bed.” Lebanner moaned.

“I am going outside. Shall you be joining me or not?” I answered.

“Do I have a choice?” Fedor Lebanner shrugged.

[Bullroarer]

(Continued)
“Mort, you must have been hearing things. There is nothing out here.” Lebanner shouted as I slogged through the muck with him on my shoulders.

“I know what I heard.” I growled back as the crack of thunder echoed through the howling winds. The trees seemed like monsters as they swayed from side to side. There was something with the storm. My enhanced nose smelled something unusual through the trees. With great haste, I began stomping through the mud and shrubs. The branches in my path were easily pushed aside because of my ogre’s strength. The winds howled within my ears and my hands felt so cold, but still I stomped.

I kept going until I saw them. Through splattering drizzle, within a small trench below were two creatures. The first was some sort of abomination of nature itself. A creature who was easily ten times my size. It seemed like a cross between a scorpion, a bull, a wolf and a black swan. A six meter scorpion tail stuck out of the things torso, about half the length of the creature. Two gargantuan wolf-like legs supported the massive creature. The torso and chest were well muscled as well as broad. The forelimbs were thin and elongated, but were slightly out of proportion with the rest of the behemoth. The head was just like a wolf’s, but had an awesome set of horns upon the skull. Then came the enormous wings that spanned the creature. The other creature was a magnificent whit doe, which lay helpless and squirming under a fallen tree branch.

“Mort, that is a fiend. Don’t even think about trying to help that venison.” Lebanner whispered quietly to my ear.

Usually I would have let nature take its course, but then the doe stared at me. The deep black eyes looked at me accusingly with an intelligence one would never expect from an animal. The eyes stared at me with rage and fire, that I would never have expected from a dying beast. “Stay here Lebanner.”

“Mort, are you crazy?” Lebanner asked as I set him down.

I grabbed a tree branch and tore it right off the tree. With a single jerk, the limb snapped free of the trunk. The end was crudely sharp, but would probably work for my purposes. The beast was obviously too concentrated upon the doe to even take notice of me leaping through the air like a boulder of meat and flesh. Through the rain and wind a sailed. The creatures back looked bigger with every second. Then, CRACK.

A giant piece of splintered wood rammed into the back of the abominable monster. With a single jerk I was sent sprawling from the creatures back. My entire back and skull was deep in mud. The creature gave a howl and then stared at me with blood shot eyes. Those eyes bore a hate unknown to be of the Azerothian world. I rolled onto my base of four limbs and began to crawl as fast as I could. I was able to get back to my feet, but stumbled back down face-first into the mud. The creature picked me up by the collar and stared at me eye to eye. I could smell the rancor breath and I felt like a helpless little lamb.

Then there was an explosion. The beast roared as it dropped me and fell to its side. Good Lebanner was tossing his bombs at the overgrown monstrosity. Getting my soggy and filthy body out of the mud, I tried to go back to Lebanner. The creature screamed once more and lifted the scorpion tail. The tip glowed a bright blue and a sapphire beam of light streamed out of the stinger. The light blasted the top of the hill and Lebanner came tumbling hurtling down, luckily I was able to catch him.

Together I ran with him on my shoulders, through the small stream of the trench with the monster roaring behind us. The trench became narrower and narrower as we ran, but the fiend did not stop. Trees and boulders only seemed like a minor hindrance to him. I leaped over brambles and ducked beneath broken sticks. Then the sounds of trees being uprooted stopped. The trench ended with no exit. I turned around to face the giant fiend. Saliva was dripping from the hungry fangs. I saw my own death within those jaws as well as the death of Fedor Lebanner. A great mist suddenly came up from below our legs. I never felt such a chill before. The sheer coldness of the miss made my bones rattle and my teeth clack. The fiend screamed in horror and tried to leap out of the trench, but it couldn’t. The mist covered the fiend completely and then left. The mist was gone, but the fiend remained. It stood there with eyes of fear beneath a layer of ice. I could not believe it, but the fiend had become an ice sculpture. Without warning the ice creature’s body shattered into hundred of shards.

“Nice spell Lebanner.” I grunted.

“It wasn’t me.” The gnome shrugged.

When we returned for the doe, all we found was a large, white, reptilian scale. I turned to Lebanner, “What do you think happened?”

“I don’t know, but that is the last time I am risking my life for a bloody animal. What the bloody hell is wrong with you Mort?” Lebanner whined.

“You are correct Lebanner we should get back before we are punished for skipping classes.” I grunted as I stuffed the big scale into my pocket.


Typo and a bit of grammar polishing helps, too. You know I always follow your fics, so please trust me on this one, k? great job btw, gotta admire your consistency and passion. Thanks, I love to write, I hope to be as good as Sumi or Ana or Vag or Rowan someday.

[Silencers]

Hahaha, that was cool. This must be the first Alchemist fanfic! Great job BR.

[Inquisistor7]

I am sure, Bullroarer, that with work and determination you will be able to reach new heights of skill. Anyway, this chapter was good. If I could offer a couple points: first of all there is grammar (which I need not speak on), secondly, the repitition of the words "creature" and "abomination" (or variations thereof, such as abominable) hurt the description of the fiend. What I especialy liked, however, was the way that Mort describes his initial viewing of that monster:

It seemed like a cross between a scorpion, a bull, a wolf and a black swan. A six meter scorpion tail stuck out of the things torso, about half the length of the creature. Two gargantuan wolf-like legs supported the massive creature. The torso and chest were well muscled as well as broad. The forelimbs were thin and elongated, but were slightly out of proportion with the rest of the behemoth. The head was just like a wolf’s, but had an awesome set of horns upon the skull. Then came the enormous wings that spanned the creature.

Good stuff man. Thanks for sharing this story with us, and please continue to bestow installments upon us.

[Bullroarer]

Two years had passed since I saw the fiend and the white doe. My master, Vargas, was no longer contacting me. He told me he would return after I found my path. I personally hoped I would never find my path. Vargas was not someone I wished to ever meet again. His heart was that of ice and he was never very compassionate. His bloody red orbs still dwell in my mind. I cannot even sleep without thinking that Vargas somewhere around. I sometimes go to sleep crying, because I knew what my dreams would be made of.

“Mort, what is the matter?” Racal asked as we walked through the bushes with Lebanner trying his hardest to keep up with us. Our schooling had ended, so Lebanner and I had decided to tag along with Racal Bloodtree after graduation. The night elf was still an apprentice and had to prove somehow to prove that he was worthy enough to become a warrior. We had been stomping through the forests, trying to find someway to prove Racal’s merit.

“Nothing Racal, but do you smell that in the air?” I asked after scratching my head. A strange, yet familiar scent filled my nostrils. It was like the scent of mist, yet it was the scent of a living creature. I craned my neck to look around and see what was amiss. In my final year I had grown all of a sudden. I now stood ten feet in height and my weight was similar to that of a fully grown bear.

“No, but I definitely hear something.” Racal’s ears perked up. The wiry night elf with drew his bow and an arrow. He was more accustomed to battle than me or Lebanner, so he took a defensive position in front of me. Lebanner came scurrying up to us with a heavy breath. The gnome’s face was absolutely blue with exhaustion.

“Well it is about time you two slowed down. Do you know how hard it is for me to keep up with the two you?” Lebanner whined as I quickly clamped a hand over the gnome’s jaw.

“Quiet you fool, there is something coming our way.” Racal said without even looking at Lebanner. The elf had his eyes pointed right at the direction where I sensed the odor. We saw the bushes moving and Racal pulled his bowstring even further back. I took my spiked mace and raised it to guard my chest. Lebanner’s palms were raised over his chest and a ball of fire began to grow from thin air, just a few inches above the palms. The bushes shook even more and the three of us became even tenser. A single bead of sweat rolled down my forehead as the thing came closer.

Then it finally presented itself to us. From the bushes came a white mist so cold that it chilled me to the bone. I felt as though the grips of winter had come across time to take our souls. The mist seemed to move towards us as if it were alive. The mist disappeared and in its place was a strange human female. It was strange because it was dressed in a hunter’s cloth. The entire creature was covered in buckskin. I could not tell her age, for I did not know much about her species. Her hair was an unusual red. It was too red for a normal human. Her eyes were slightly slanted and her skin was a little yellow rather than the peach, which I saw in most humans. She also did not smell like a human. In fact, she did not even smell mammalian. She smelled reptilian.

“Mort Thresh, servant of Vargas, it is good to see you again as well as you Fedor Lebanner.” She said in a deep voice that one would not expect from a human, voice that echoed within the chambers of my mind. My jaw was gawking at the strange human female, which I have never met, but knows my name as well as Lebanner. Racal’s face had gone from purple to pink as if he had seen a ghost. Lebanner seemed sort of happy though to see the woman. The fireball within his palms had disappered. I did not want to ponder what was going through Lebanner’s mind.

“Milady, if I had ever met such a beautiful woman, then surely I would have remembered.” Lebanner grinned. I almost thought that saliva would fall out of the passionate gnome.

“Be silent gnome.” She thundered and Lebanner scurried behind me. Ogres may not be very magical creatures, but the raw power the vibration of her words was unimaginable. Racal collapsed in heap in front of me. Elves could sense the tiniest hint of magic. The woman’s power had accidentally knocked Racal of balance. I helped my friend up and the three of us were huddled together in fear.

“I have come for you, Mort Thresh. You will come with me or else.” She said in a cold and unfeeling voice. My teeth were chattering loudly as my body was overcome by a terrible coldness.

“I don’t think so. Mort is not going anywhere without me and Lebanner.” Racal stumbled away from me, towards the human. Racal was barely able to walk, but he looked at her straight in the face and said, “You want Mort, you have to pass me.”

“What he said.” Lebanner shouted as he made a rude gesture to her with one of his fingers.

Swallowing my fear, I looked at my friends. They were just as afraid, yet they were willing to stand for me. I could do no less for them. “Touch my friends, and you shall have to touch me. I tell you right now, to back yourself away. If you harm one of us, you harm all three of us.”

“Is this a joke?” She rumbled so loud that I felt like convulsing.

“No joke, so you can take your sweet arse and get lost misty girl.” Lebanner shouted with too much excitement.

“Silence gnome!” She thundered again and Lebanner’s feet were suddenly encased in small blocks of ice. Racal fired an arrow, but she just caught the wooden shaft in mid-air before the weapon could reach her skull. Lebanner stumbled, but he was able to use the heat from his hands to melt the ice away. “I am not asking Mort to come with me. I am telling Mort to come with me.”

“I have had enough, enchantress. If your quarrel is with me, then stop taking your anger out on Lebanner. Tell me why you are here for me?” I growled as I raised my spiked mace to strike down the human.

“I do not know why exactly, but I require your help.” She rumbled less loudly, “My people are in a bit of jeopardy and I was instructed to find you again.”

“I do not know what you mean by find me again, but if you needed my help then you should have just asked. You did not have to freeze Lebanner’s feet just prove your might, whatever you maybe. I will help you if you promise not to harm my friends.” I grunted.

“Fine I promise not to harm them, but will follow me if I tell you to do so?” She asked. Her voice seemed almost normal now.

“I gave you my word and I keep my word.” I answered back once more.

“Wait a minute, Mort isn’t going anywhere without me or Racal. Suppose we decide to try and stop you from taking our pal.” Lebanner questioned the enchantress.

“I said silence gnome!!! You and the elf may come, but you shall keep you tongue still and do as I say.” She thundered and her body became a cloudy mist once more and she began to transform. The cloudy substance began to take shape into something I had never expected. The mist disappeared once more to give shape to a solid form. The human female emerged once more, but two white reptilian wings sprouted out of her back. Her eyes were yellow and more wrathful than I would ever expect. Two of her teeth had suddenly turned into fangs. She was definitely not a demoness, but she obviously had some dragon within her. I had a feeling this was her true form. I had never met a half dragon before. If I had quill and parchment then I would have taken notes. She growled once more, “Are there any objections?”

“You’re the boss.” Lebanner said nervously.

“I don’t have a problem with it. What about you Racal?” I asked.

“No, I have no objections.” Racal said quickly.

“Good, I am glad we are all in agreement.” She said proudly and stomped through the woods. After a few moments, a horrible thunder came, “Well are you coming or do I have to come back there.”

“I am on my way madam.” I quickly jogged.

“Coming miss Half Mist Dragon mam.” Lebanner agreed.

“Nothing like a good trek through the woods.” Racal chirped. I am sure, Bullroarer, that with work and determination you will be able to reach new heights of skill. Anyway, this chapter was good. If I could offer a couple points: first of all there is grammar (which I need not speak on), secondly, the repitition of the words "creature" and "abomination" (or variations thereof, such as abominable) hurt the description of the fiend. What I especialy liked, however, was the way that Mort describes his initial viewing of that monster: I am glad you liked my description in the second half of the chapter where I described the beast, what did you think of my dream scene in the first half of the chapter where Mort sees Vargas come through the sky. I really respect your opininion Inquisistor7 as well as your Silencers. P.S. how can they be an alchemist with no goblin

[Inquisistor7]

I presume you mean this:

I can’t take my eyes off the rain. The dismal blackness of the sky illuminated by the flashing of lightning and disturbed by the violent crack of thunder. I could see Vargas in every flash and every drop. The raindrops were as red as his eyes and the lightning outlined the jaws of his winged leviathan. I could see him flying through the storm. His mount screeching as he came closer. His shadow blanketed the sky as well as my soul. Beating through the bloody raindrops and flapping in between the screaming bolts of the heavens, Vargas came. He came right to the window, his breath fogged up the glass and a three-fingered reptilian hand touched the frame.


Ths description was cool. It sound like the sort of thing one would see in a nightmare. The best part of it was probably the following: Beating through the bloody raindrops and flapping in between the screaming bolts of the heavens, Vargas came.

Also, I like the association of Vargas with blood, that is, in that paragraph the rain is described as bloody, and in the most recent post you made you wrote: His bloody red orbs still dwell in my mind. It sort of reminds me of a vampire, but that is probably because I once wrote an essay for school on the role blood plays in Dracula.

As for the most recent post, it was pretty good. I wasn't expeting to see a half-dragon, and I'm pretty sure they aren't the most common beings to be found in a story. Anyway, the way she asks for Mort's help and his reaction to it struck me as a little run of the mill, but the half dragon and her angry (to put it lightly) personality made it better.

[Bullroarer]

“I am hungry.” Lebanner said from my shoulder as we walked through some hedges. The half dragon was completely tireless. She was like a steam machine. She kept going and going with no end. As an ogre, I could easily keep up and Racal was physically trained his entire life. Lebanner had grown up with little or no physical training. His short little gnome feet could barely keep up, so I had to carry him.

“We have no time to feed. It is a long walk from here to my home.” The half dragon answered in a harsh tone that grated my nerves. She kept on making us go further and further, just for her own benefit.

“I don’t know about dragons, but we need food. Do wish to deliver me alive or deliver me as a corpse.” I answered as politely as possible. The dragon’s temper was very severe and she probably could destroy all three of us if she wanted. “I caught the scent of a lake not far from here. We could go there and get enough food to eat.”

She seemed a bit hesitant, as if wondering what we were up to. I could see a bit of anger boiling in her temple as she finally spoke, “All three of you are going to stay here. I will go bring the fish. If I come back, to find Mort gone, I will drag him back in chains and you two will be frozen forever as my personal ice sculptures”

“Agreed.” I answered. She looked at me for a moment and then jumped into the air. Her wings unfurled and began to flap. With a slow start, she started flying in the direction of the lake. Her white wings flapped and flapped until she was out of sight. I gave a sigh of relief as the half dragon left out our presence.

“Okay, I say we make a run south. By the time she gets back we will be long gone.” Lebanner announced shrewdly. The gnome was absolutely giddy.

“I can’t. I gave her my word that I would do as she said.” I grunted unhappily. As much as I wanted, I could not break my word.

“Besides, no matter where we go, she would find us. Even if all three of us combined our strengths, she would defeat us. Secondly, this could be just the quest to prove that I am a warrior. Who knows, it might even be fun.” Racal nodded in agreement with me.

“You two are crazy. Dwarf-drunk, harpy-kissing, wolf-kicking, sewage-drinking, crazy. She froze my stinking ankles. She is obviously psychotic.” Lebanner continued.

“You think this makes me happy Lebanner. I could not risk you being injured, so I had to agree. If you remember correctly, you should know that you are the object of her anger.” I answered in the enraged gnome.

“Well, I can complain if I want.” Lebanner panted as he sat down upon a bluish gray rock. I saw the rock slightly move. A leg came up from one side. Then another leg came out and then another. Legs kept on coming out, until there were eight legs. Two enormous claws came out and two eyes blinked open.

“Lebanner, don’t move.” I said quietly as I looked upon the beast beneath the gnome. It was huge. It was three times bigger than me and had carapace armor. It was a crab the size of a buffalo. Each claw was very long and jagged with sharp spikes.

“Why?” The gnome asked, unaware, that he was not sitting on a rock.

“Lebanner, listen to Mort. You are not sitting on a rock. There is a giant crab, right beneath you. If you make any sudden moves, it will attack.” Racal whispered very quietly. The three of us were absolutely still as the crab got up. The gnome gripped the back as hard as possible. The eyes on the crab stared at me and then turned to the elf. The hungry jaws of the beast barely wavered.

“Mort, I have an idea. I jump and tackle Lebanner, while you hit it straight on.” Racal whispered, careful not to move a muscle.

“You must be joking Racal. You want me to attack that thing with my spiked mace.” I said incredulously.

“Whatever you two guys do? Do it fast. This thing seems hungry.” Lebanner squirmed a little.

“You get the crab and then I tackle Lebanner.” Racal whispered.

“No, you tackle Lebanner and then I attack the crab.” I answered.

“You go first.” Racal whispered once more.

“No, you go first.” I countered.

“How about we count to three and we both go at the same time.” He decided.

“Fine, let’s do this.” I picked up my spiked steel mace.

“One, two, THREE!!!” The elf and I advanced on the crab. The elf flew through the air and tackled the tiny gnome while my mace slammed into the side of the beast. The creature barely shuddered at the impact of my blow. He did not even show the slightest sign that he had been injured. The crab seemed annoyed by my mace. It turned to face me and slammed one of the claws in an attempt to strike me. Luckily, I was a bit faster than the armor plated crab.

The crab’s second claw rushed forward before I could gain my balance. His claw latched onto my mace’s hilt. I could hear the sound of metal bending as the crab latched onto my weapon and tore the top half of my mace off. It left me with nothing more than a little bar of metal. The crab tossed the weapon aside and continued to advance like an unstoppable juggernaut.

A burst of flame exploded in the rear end of the crab. It was completely consumed by fire. It screeched as the flames covered it from claw to leg. After a few moments, the flames were gone. The crab shook itself a little as the flames went away. It turned around and looked straight at Lebanner with a bloody rage.

It charged at Lebanner with sheer rage and blood lust. The gnome’s face went pale with fear as the crab came close to slaying him. I hurled my body onto the crab’s back and latched my hands around the sides. The creature began to bounce up and down, trying to throw me of its back. My stomach was churning and I began to feel ill. The creature bucked and screeched, but I did not let go.

“Calm down brother, I am not here to hurt you.” Racal said and the crab stopped moving. The night elf slowly advanced. “Mort, get off the crab now. I promise it is not going to hurt you.

I obeyed and got off the crab’s back. The creature simply looked at the night elf. He came closer and the crab snapped at the arm. Racal barely managed to save his fingers. He began to advance more upon the crab. He came closer and closer until his fingers touched the crab upon the back. The crab became still and the claws relaxed.

“Racal, what did you do?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but it seems that we have a new friend.” The night elf grinned.


“Well, I am back with your fish. What is that doing here?” A familiar booming voice came from behind us. The half dragon returned from the forest with three large basses hanging from one of her hands.

“Don’t ask me. Racal is the one who tamed him.” Lebanner answered quickly.

“Get rid of that thing before I kill it.” She boomed. “I am not going to feed all four of you.”

Racal looked dismayed, but he knew the half dragon meant every word. “Okay crab, go on. Get lost. Leave. Don’t come closer. I said go away. Quit nuzzling me and go away. I am sorry, but he does not want to leave.”

The half dragon gave a light kick and the crab snapped one of its claws at the half dragon aggressively. The half dragon easily avoided, but she was obviously offended. The woman shrieked and her fingernails grew a few inches in length as she went into a striking position.

“Wait, wait. He is kind of attached to me. I promise he will be of no trouble. I can’t just get rid of him.” Racal stepped in her path

“Yeah, why do you have to be such a mean…?” Lebanner was cut of by the half dragon’s stare.

“Such a mean what, Lebanner?” She snarled loudly.

“Nothing, you’re the nicest lady I ever met.” The gnome changed his tome.

“Keep that thing out of my path or your next meal shall be frozen crab.” She finally relented.
As for the most recent post, it was pretty good. I wasn't expeting to see a half-dragon, and I'm pretty sure they aren't the most common beings to be found in a story. Anyway, the way she asks for Mort's help and his reaction to it struck me as a little run of the mill, but the half dragon and her angry (to put it lightly) personality made it better.
thanks

[Bullroarer]

Hmm...no replies, Oh well
Next CHapter
The stars glanced down upon me from above as everyone slept, except the half dragon and me. Racal had fallen asleep upon the back of the crab. Lebanner had made a small hole and disappeared inside. The elf and gnome had been fighting all day on what to name the crustacean, but in the end the name Hammer was decided by Racal. I thought the name was appropriate. The crab could hammer someone with its claw pretty hard. I don’t know how Racal tamed the wild beast, but I was grateful that he did.

“Why are you staring at me? I gave you my word that I would follow you and do whatever you asked.” I grunted as I noticed the half dragon lurking within the shadows in the form of Lebanner. She may have been able to make her body an exact copy, but I could always tell Lebanner’s scent apart from others. The half dragon smelled like sweet mist, but Lebanner smelled like explosive chemicals, sweat and fried eggs.

“You are a servant of Vargas. Do your friends know about your master?” She asked in a soft rumble, so her voice would not wake the others. Her form began to change back to normal. I sometimes wondered if the other half of her was human, but I dared not ask. The temperament of the half dragon was beyond any scale. She had come close to killing Lebanner and Hammer. Her question disturbed me, but I turned away. I knew what kind of person Vargas was, but he was still my master.

“I do not want to discuss my personal life with you. Whatever you know about my master, I beg you not to tell about it to Racal or Lebanner,” I answered back. It was the politest answer I could think of at that moment. I turned my head, so I would not have to look at her face. Dragons were known to be able to weed out truth from lies.

“Vargas is known to my people. He hunts dragons for the magical substances our bodies can produce. He tortures innocent creatures and for his entire life, he made things especially cruel for the woodland creatures of Azeroth. Among my people there are stories about Vargas. Some of the stories tell about Vargas. One of the stories speaks of a dungeon and in that dungeon Vargas makes monsters. Are the stories true?” She asked.

“You want a conversation that I really do not want to have.” I grumbled and she grabbed my wrist. I felt a sudden chill crawling up my shoulder. I felt as though I had put my wrist inside of a frigid blizzard. Her grip was strong for her size, but I could feel cracking of my wrist bones as she tightened.

“Tell me, now.” She was not asking. Her voice was devoid of any care or passion. I had lost all feeling on my left side. I looked at her, but asking for mercy would be too much. She was going to tear of my hand if I didn’t tell her.

“Let go and let me show you something.” I finally relented. I took my wrist back and began to rub the injured parts. The natural yellow of my skin had turned blue from my wrist to the tip of my fingers. I quickly pulled back the sleeve of my giant coat to reveal a giant cut upon my tricep. The gash was pretty gruesome and there were strange colors in the wound that were not meant for a normal ogre. “Vargas did this to my arm and then he used chemicals on my arm to see how it affected me. I put up with this until I was ten and backhand slapped Vargas. He didn’t even move, but I had knocked his hood off. I did not get a look at his face, but he threw me across the room. He showed me some respect after that and stopped torturing me.”

She was quiet for a moment and then spoke once more, “If I ever hear that you and Vargas are working together. Then half of your body shall be turned to ice sculpture and the rest I shall cut up with my hands while you scream.”

“What about your past. Surely you are not all dragon. How did you come to be?” I asked in rebuttal. I said it in a spur of anger and haste, but I immediately regretted those words. She looked at me as though she wanted to tear out my tongue.

She seemed outraged by me question, but then her expression softened a bit. She pulled up her hair to show two stubby horns poking out of the top of her skull and a pointy forked tail unfurled from behind her. She spoke, “I guess I owe you something for making you tell your tale, but not a word to Lebanner or Racal or anyone else. My mother is a mist dragon that was foolish enough to enter the world of humans in human form. She met dark knight and was seduced by his charms. She later found out that he was really a demon in human form, but it was too late. Before she could find him and slay him, she discovered that she would soon lay an egg.”

“I am sorry, I had no idea.” I pleaded. Being a half dragon must have been hard, but a half demon. That must have made her a true outcaste.

She furled the tail back up and covered the horns with her hair once more and glanced at me, “Don’t be sorry. You now know what I am. You know what will happen if you break your word. I bet you know some awful stories about demons?” She smiled.

She was right, I did know some stories from Vargas and if the stories were true then half a demon was worse than half a dragon.

[Inquisistor7]

Well, that helps to explain why she has so much rage. Anyway, the past two posts were sound and enjoyable. Racal's taming of the crab was very sudden, but I would suppose that was intentional. Still, it felt a little awkward to me. Also, the dialogue so far has been good, aside form the occasional grammatical stumblings (which are usually not all that major).

[Silencers]

Vargas has some sort of honor for a such a wicked villain. I like that in bad guys.

[Bullroarer]

Next CHapter
“Do we really have to go into this cave?” Lebanner questioned uneasily. The five of us had arrived at a large cave in a basin of the forest. According to the half dragon we had to enter the cave to find a way into her realm. The outside of the cave was laid with shrubs and an eerie vapor. A windy sound came from the mouth of the giant hole in the wall that sounded as though a creature was alive in there. A gnome may like small places, but I could tell that Lebanner was on the verge of a fearful breakdown.

“Silence Gno…” She was about to roar.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. The gnome is going to shut his mouth now.” Lebanner grunted. In the past few weeks, the half dragon had often yelled at Lebanner the same order.

“I agree with Lebanner, I smell something I don’t like in there. It does not seem safe to me.” I said in approval. The hybrid looked at me as though she could tear out my tongue and feed it to me. She often got her way with us and disagreement usually meant a sonic roar to the skull. I continued speaking to see if logic could enter her thick skull, “My instincts and nose are telling me we shouldn’t enter. Hammer has not stopped clicking his claws since we came here. The crab is clearly sensing something as well. I know as a hybrid dragon your senses are very acute, but an ogre’s nose and a crab’s senses should not be ignored.”

“Are you saying that your senses are better than mine? I assure you that this short cut has been used by several dragons and none of them ever faced any problems.” She rumbled. I looked up at her as if to answer, but I knew she would not listen. I don’t exactly how old she was, but her arrogance was highly profound. She behaved as if she were a rich child whose parents had spoiled with every luxury. I clenched my jaw to keep from saying something I would regret.
***

The inside of the cave was just as bad as the outside. Never in my life had I ever seen such slime and grime. The walls were slick with viscous liquid and several arachnids. The eight legged specimens crawled all around us. This was there home, but there was something wrong and I could smell it. The odor of the other presence was quite strong in my nasal, and Hammer nervously clicked his claws. I wished I could talk to the beast, but unfortunately crab was not one of the languages I learned in school.

“Mort is right.” Racal came to a dead stop. I looked at him and saw a burning fear within the glowing orbs of his eyes. He was afraid and I was sure it was for a good reason. The elf was as hard as nails, but his ears were quivering. I took a sniff and realized that the scent had become stronger. It was not the scent of a crab, a fiend, a giant bat, but it was definitely a beastly scent. It was such a strong and powerful scent that I could even taste the odor upon my tongue.

“You half-brained idiots, no wonder dragons have always ruled this world and have had to protect you. My powers allow me to feel the presence of others. I was able to track the three of you down with my abilities. So are you now telling me that the ears of elf have succeeded where the magic of dragons has failed? Without my people, elves, humans and others would not even walk these realms.” She snarled as a great big scythe like object raised itself above her head. It was completely black, but even I could see it through my dim night vision. Racal stood horrified as if he could not move. What was worse was that the scythe was just a tale.

“Move!” I yelled as I tackled the hybrid with my shoulder as the scythe came down and cut her across the shoulder. Lebanner was able to make a bit of light with a lantern and we all got a good look out our opponent. It was a great big scorpion stood in out path. Its exoskeleton was completely dark and two powerful pincers pointed their tips towards us. It was a Terror Scorpid. Such creatures were believed to have existed in prehistoric Azeroth. According to my studies in school, the beast was supposed to extinct. Apparently the books were wrong. It was also remarkable in possessing both grace and brute force.

The hybrid had fallen unconscious and her skin began to break with purple veins stretching from the wound. My weapon had been destroyed by Hammer earlier and I was of no use. Racal’s arrows would simply bounce of the hardened exoskeleton. Taking out my reading glasses and herbs, I began to inspect the wound.

There was only one thing big enough to go at this creature. Hammer roared as he raised his body high. The scorpion had obviously never seen another beast so close to its size. It snipped at the crustacean with it mighty claws only to find the much larger claws of hammer to have a more powerful grip. The great crab swung the larger beast with superior claw power, but the emperor of the cave held on. The crab had superior armor, strength and pincers, but the scorpion had the body weight and poison advantage.

“Lebanner, look after her while I am gone, I have to help Racal and Hammer” I grunted as I put the hybrid down and grabbed one of the giant stalagmites that jutted out of the ground. My muscles bulged beneath my coat as I pulled with all my strength. If I died in this cave then I would not die without making the arachnid earn the breakfast. With all my strength I pushed, but the rock still clung in place.

[Bullroarer]

I saw Racal grab the creature's tail in an effort to help the crab, but with a flick of the enormous appendage, the elf was sent head first into a slimy wall. I don’t know whether Racal had survived, but I prayed that he was still alive. None of this was supposed to be happening. I should never have accepted that hybrid’s orders. Racal had always been a close friend and as I watched him lay there in a heap, I felt my heart beating faster. How could Racal be dead? He was always there for me in my time of need at school. I had never pondered the idea of Racal gone. I was useless and pathetic. In his hour of desperation I had failed a friend. Lebanner left the female for the elf and uttered a scream, “RACAL!”


I don’t know whether an animal can feel love, but something went off within the crustacean. With a jerk of the claw, the crab freed one claw from the grips of the scorpion. Hammer bellowed a hollow moan through the dark halls of the cave and in that moan I felt my own heart being torn apart. The crab smashed a larger pincer upon the obsidian armor of its adversary. The blow rang true and the scorpion released the other claw as well. The crab hammered the scorpion with his second claw at the side. The great bulk of the scorpion bulked up just barely and it retaliated with a stinger at the crab’s skull. The sharp weapon bounced off Hammer’s skull as though it had no affect upon the armor. The massive titans collided once more in an embrace of pincers. Both were locked pincer to pincer once more, but Hammer had become more aggressive. The crab bellowed once more, but this time with a rage. It lifted the scorpion off the ground and banged it against the cave wall.

The black arachnid pulled its longer body back and dragged the crab as well. The scorpion released the pincers of Hammer once more and attacked at the joint of one of Hammer’s legs. The crab screamed as the opponent shoved its full body weight forward in an attempt to flip the crab upon the softer bell. The leg joint began to make cracking noises and Hammer unleashed several bashes upon the scorpion’s head. The arachnid ignored the crustacean’s mindless attacks and continued the attack upon the leg. Pretty soon both pincers of the scorpion latched onto the crab’s leg. With a jerk, the scorpion tore off Hammer’s leg.

Blood flooded out of the torn limb as hammer collapsed to one side. The scorpion aimed a sting at the wound, but missed. The armor had been penetrated and was now free to be poisoned. I heard a gurgling sound from Hammer as he tried to parry the continuous barrage of stings from the horrid beast. The life essence of the crab was coming loose and I was still clinging to the stalagmite. Hammer did not deserve to die. I could not let him suffer a fate suffer a fate so gruesome. The scorpion Hammer around like a rag doll, almost as if it enjoyed torturing the crab. It finally go a hook on the wound limb and raised the stinger

“No!” I roared as the Stalagmite began to crack.

“No!” I roared as the foundation began to tear.

“No!” I roared as I tore the stalagmite right out of the cave floor as tears drenched my cheeks. The scorpion glanced at me with eight hideous eyes of malice.

“You took Racal, you prehistoric monstrosity and you’re not going to take another.” I screamed as the makeshift cudgel smashed against the scorpions head and it released the crab.

“Don’t you dare retreat. Come back here beast.” I bashed the scorpion over the head once more with my weapon. The scorpion screamed in agony as it was retreated further back into the cave. It tried to attack with the stinger once more, but I grabbed the end with my hand and ripped off the bastard’s poisonous end. I saw red within my own mind as I knocked him on his back with the giant stone. I saw nothing, but the scorpion’s own putrid blackish purple blood as I began striking the soft belly over and over. I took great pleasure in hearing it scream. What happened in that moment, I could not exactly remember, but I was yelling “Die you filthy animal. Die now and join the rest of your species as a fossil. Die miserable beast. You’re nothing, do you hear me. You’re nothing. You’re nothing. You’re nothing. You’re…”

“Mort stop, its dead now. You killed it. Right now I need your help. Racal is going to be alright. He is going to need a healer soon though.” Lebanner stopped me and the dream of blood had ended. The scorpion’s innards had been turned to mush and my weapon was no longer even worth using. My coat was completely covered with the vile things insides. I don’t know what had possessed me as I wiped the blood off my glasses and turned around. The hybrid was moaning as the poison began taking affect, Racal had suffered internal injury and needed a real healer and Hammer was bleeding from a lost leg. The only good news was that the crab was able to still walk.

“We need to go to the dragons. The hybrid told us the short cut would be in this tunnel. Right now they maybe our only hope.” I grunted as I hoisted Racal over my shoulder and took a good look at the hybrid. She was responsible for all of this. She dragged us here. She ignored our warning when we entered. By all rights, the bitch deserved to die.

“Let’s just leave her, less weight to carry.” Lebanner snorted. He said exactly what was going through my mind. It would be so easy just to leave her. I only promised to follow and obey her. I never said I would be her bodyguard. No one would ever know. It was a good idea, but I knew that it would be wrong to just abandon a creature to die slow death of poison. The way she just looked there, just staring into space. Drool and spittle began to form at her mouth. Her entire shoulder covered in purple veins. She was in such utter pain. I tossed her over my shoulder and carefully cradled Racal into my arms.

“Mort what are you doing?” Lebanner questioned in amazement.

“Lebanner, not now” I glared and silenced him. We walked into the pitch of darkness until not even my eyes could see. Into the unknown abyss we went and then I stopped feeling. The weight of Racal and the hybrid were gone. I could sense nothing, not even my own legs. It was as if I had entered oblivion.

[Sumiyoshi]

Kuuuuun....

Interesting... very interesting. I like your style- the only real nitpick I have is the few spelling errors that pop up every now and then, but that's a very minor detail, as I'm very much looking forward to what happens next. :y-thumbsu

[Silencers]

I like it. More please.

[Inquisistor7]

Very nice. The action in this chapter was quite vivid, well done. Keep it up.

[KillAllZerg]

the zerglingrush is back, after a long bout of silence and with a different name. Nice to see you still here bull.

[Bullroarer]

“Wake up ogre, we are here!” A very familiar, yet unwelcome voice grunted as a splash of cold water woke me from my slumber. With a little shake of the skull, I looked up to see the hybrid, clad in warrior’s armor. At her side was a tin bucket, she was obviously the one to splash me over the head. I grumbled loudly and touched my aching forehead, trying to collect my thoughts. I remembered the cave, the battle between Hammer and the Scorpid, the hybrid being slashed and Racal being slammed. Racal! By all that was sacred, what had happened to Racal?

“Well it’s about time that you woke up. These dragons are quite decent chaps. They fixed my backbone and gave the half dragon a cure.” Racal’s friendly voice came to my ears. I turned see the night elf sitting upon a boulder nearby. He looked as though his vertebrate had never snapped. He actually looked better than before he had been slammed. Every scar and bruise from other years had miraculously vanished from the elf’s body.

“Well what are staring at?” The elf laughed.

Leaping off the ground, I hurled myself at the elf headlong. Grabbing Racal in an iron embrace, my eyes began to spout tears once more. The elf was alive. The bloody elf was still breathing. It was as if a weight that had been trapped upon my shoulders had suddenly disappeared. I gripped Racal even harder as I began to laugh. “Racal, by all the damned luck, you’re still alive.”

“Yes and I would like to stay alive, until I have a chance to die again. You saved me from dying from a careless mistake of grabbing a scorpid’s tail. Thanking you for saving my honor. Hopefully my next encounter with death shall be on the battlefield, not trying to subdue an overgrown bug.” The elf managed to get out of the embrace and bowed to me in respect. I heard a stirring sound from beneath me. Hammer the crab began to rise from his slumber as well as the gnome beside him. The boulder Racal had been sitting on was the crab.

“Racal, you‘re alive!” The gnome jumped and gave the elf a hug as well. To our surprise, the crab hurled all three of us off its back. The crab had stopped bleeding from its missing appendage and was in rare form. Hammer turned around and saw Racal. The crab seemed confused and then it charged. Even with seven legs, the crab moved with incredible speed.

“Hammer no. No, no, no. Bad crab, sit.” Racal wailed as the gigantic girth of the oversized crustacean knocked the elf down. Grabbing the crab by one leg, I dragged it off Racal before any bones were crushed.

“Enough!” They hybrid roared and three of us quickly went back into orderly positions. Everyone except Hammer stood in a line facing the hybrid. She seemed as though she could have just turned our eyes into solid blocks. “You four are the biggest idiots ever. If you had not distracted me, then I would never have been stung. I almost died for your stupidity.”

How dare that pompous arse of a creature criticize us? I risked my life for her. Racal almost got killed because of her. She hiked us till our feet were blistering. She starved us with little food. She took us to this realm against my will. She black mailed me by threatening Lebanner. She almost tore off my arm and threatened to kill us all over a dozen times, especially Hammer. My teeth clenched hard to keep my mouth from telling how I truly felt.

“That is it. I have had enough of you!” A voice boomed. It was not mine. It was not Racal’s. It was Fedor Lebanner.

“Silence…” She was about to screech.

[Bullroarer]

“Silence yourself. I don’t care if you are some sort of incredibly powerful mist dragon hybrid. Mort warned you about going into the cave. Hammer warned you about going into the cave. Racal warned you that something else was in the cave. I am tired of you always screaming at us and telling us what to do. Always, ‘silence gnome’ or ‘shut up’ or ‘I am going to turn you all into ice sculptures.’ Well guess what, that scorpion was sitting right behind you and your so called mystical dragon powers couldn’t sense it. The thing’s tail was hanging right above your head and you didn’t even care. You can’t even admit when we are right and you are wrong. Racal here risked his life to save your miserable behind and almost got killed. Hammer had his bloody leg torn off. We could have just left your arse in that cave and let you die from poison. Hell I wanted to leave you there. Mort here picked you up and bought you with us.” Lebanner shouted. He looked the hybrid straight in the face. Racal was speechless and I just could not believe what happened. I looked at Lebanner and began to wonder if he was really was the gnome.

The hybrid’s eyes seemed ready to burst into flames. “You are dead gnome.”

“That is enough Fidalia.” A mighty voice like the crack of thunder sounded from above. A giant white dragon flew from the clouds down to the ground. It was magnificent in every way. It had an elongated muzzle with sharp ripping teeth. The forehead was slightly blue and green eyes bulged from the top. The body was slender and long with wings the size of sails. I landed just a few feet away from us.

“Are the words of the gnome true, Fidalia?” The great white dragon asked. “Did you insult them after they saved your life?”

The hybrid turned her face to the ground. She was beginning to squirm. After so many days of slogging, it was good to see the hybrid squirm. It is wrong to take pleasure in the suffering of another, but I enjoyed watching her bend before the great white dragon, knowing that she probably hated taking any orders from anyone.

“Well, is it true?” He asked once more.

“Yes.” She muttered.

“Yes what?” He grunted.

“Yes, Prince Tungsten.” She answered loudly. I almost felt like falling backwards and laughing my head off. Lebanner was grinning ear to ear.

“My apologizes, welcomed guests. I am Prince Tungsten and this is my subject, Fidalia. You will have to excuse her manners for she is only six and a half years of age. Mist dragons at this age are extremely volatile.” The prince bowed to us curtly. “I am sorry for the way Fidalia received you, but I hope we can forget about that.”

“She almost tore my hand off.” I answered in disbelief.

“She froze my toes.” Lebanner joined.

“She wanted to eat my crab.” Racal wanted to humiliate the hybrid as well.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself young lady?” Tungsten nudged.

Her face was completely distorted in fury. It seemed like a volcanic eruption would blast out of her body completely. In a low growl, she spoke, “I am sorry.” It looked as though the words had caused her physical pain. Her face was bright red in embarrassment.

“What did you say? There is a bit of ear wax blocking my ear drums.” Lebanner pretended to clean out his ear with a finger. He was enjoying this more than me or Racal.

“Well, speak up.” Tungsten nudged.

“I said that I was sorry.” She put on the fakest smile I ever saw. Beyond that smile, I could see her thoughts. She was probably thinking of ways to torture Lebanner.

“Now that everything is settled, I must ask the ogre… what was your name again, oh yes, I must ask the ogre, Mort Thresh to come with me. There is some matter of urgency, which demands your ears alone.” The prince said in the politest voice imaginable.

“We go where Mort goes.” Racal boomed.

“Very well then, come along. Time is of the essence.” Tungsten chirped.

As we walked behind Tungsten, Fidalia picked up Lebanner, “I hope you make the most of your life right now Fedor Lebanner, because as soon as I get the chance you’re going to be the sorry one.”

Interesting... very interesting. I like your style- the only real nitpick I have is the few spelling errors that pop up every now and then, but that's a very minor detail, as I'm very much looking forward to what happens next. Thank you, it is an honor to have your greatness read my story.

To Inq: Thanks
To Silencers: thanks

the zerglingrush is back, after a long bout of silence and with a different name. Nice to see you still here bull. You can't keep a good tauren down.

[TheNewHorde]

Greetings to all, I am The-New-Horde. (it's a long story how I got the name) I love to read novels and well, story such as the ones you wrote here. I joined this place as soon as I finish reading the whole entire thing. (and it was very long indeed!) I was hoping that maybe I can learn alot of language skills here, cause you guys write the type of stuff I loves. Anyways, I'm just 14 years old, but I got a ton of imagination and I hopes to preticipate as much as I can with this forum (without losing my grades). It is very nice to meet you all, you can reach me at NewHorde@aol.com. Oh, by the way, (what I said was way off subject,) I love the story, but there is just a thing I wanna clear up. It may seems weird, but night elves have silver eyes with no pupils and they turns into dark violet when they flush because their blood is purple. (just for your knowledge, not trying to be mean or rude.) Your sorta wrote the night elf girl turned red in the earlier forum, that's why I mentioning this. :y-wink2:

[KillAllZerg]

hey bull, i cant find "vengence of the night elves". where the hell did it go? :y-huh:

[Silencers]

SOmehwere a few pages back I think. This Fidalia reminds me of another one of your characters, Meera.

[Inquisistor7]

It may seems weird, but night elves have silver eyes with no pupils and they turns into dark violet when they flush because their blood is purple. (just for your knowledge, not trying to be mean or rude.) Your sorta wrote the night elf girl turned red in the earlier forum, that's why I mentioning this. :y-wink2:

My good fellow, as much as we all appreciate the info, and in all seriousness I for one like new information on races, this is a fan fiction. Therefore, the author doesn't have to follow the conventions of what a race is specifically like. I mean no offense.

Bull, good as always. It is fun to see Fidalia get put in her place, and I like how you put it. I mean, it is wrong to take pleasure in someone else's suffering, but it is hard to help it sometimes.

[TheNewHorde]

Bull, good as always. It is fun to see Fidalia get put in her place, and I like how you put it. I mean, it is wrong to take pleasure in someone else's suffering, but it is hard to help it sometimes.

Dude, that is like the most weird thing I heard. What do you mean it's hard to help it sometimes? How can you possibly have any pleasure when someone is suffering... Don't you feel sad for them? You're a cold blood animal... (which is a reptile by the way, except for the half duck creature that lays egg, it's the only exception known for animals that lay eggs and feeds milk) Unless you hate the person of course, which there is someone I really hate, but you can't possibly hate everyone!

[Inquisistor7]

Well, I have found in my life, that I often take pleasure seeing those I dislike feel pain. I am in no way saying it is right, jsut that we, as human beings, are flawed.

[Bullroarer]

“Mort Thresh, servant of the Vargas, I welcome you to my home.” The Prince said casually as I passed trees ripe with hundred of oranges. Everywhere I turned, there fields upon fields of fruit. Never in my life had I ever seen such an abundance of apples, bananas, mangoes, grapes, tangerines, oranges, lemons, limes, pineapples, jack fruits, lychees, papayas, pomegranates, and berries. I would have thought dragons of mist, ice and water would have a palace upon an iceberg, but the prince seemed more down to earth.

“Your home is magnificent sir, but may I ask why I am here?” I answered carefully. The prince was far more pleasant to speak with than Fidalia, but I he may have had a dark side buried beneath his exterior. I knew that there was an animal waiting within me. I had seen the face of the beast when I killed the Scorpid. The beast within my own heart was still alive and breathing.

“Did Fidalia not tell you? I thought of all the people that she would have spoken to, it would have been you.” The prince ripped one of the spiky jack fruits from the trees. Instead of removing the skin to eat the juicy seeds inside, Tungsten chomped the entire fruit down within one gulp. He ate the giant jack fruits, which were bigger than my head, as if they were grapes. After a little snack, he turned back to me. “Fidalia’s mother has run amuck with some rather nasty ogres a few months ago. Quite a bad mishap really. A dragon to be outwitted by an ogre, can you imagine that. No offense to present company. The ogres have further and further encroached upon our lands. They even penetrated the barrier between our worlds. I don’t know how they did it, but they have. Ordinarily an ogre would be no match for a dragon, but if you add a few mages, a few cannons, some catapults, sphinxes, some goblin machines and some centaur archers. Well you get the idea.”

“So why did you bring me and…” Then it hit me. Fidalia’s mother had been captured by ogres and now ogres were invading. That was why they needed me.

“So I am a hostage to trade for Fidalia’s mother?” I grumbled as I slowly tightened my fist into a ball. I knew that I would not stand a chance against a dragon, but there was always a luck factor. I eyed the weak spot behind the back of the neck of dragon. If I could hit that point with all my strength I would be able kill the dragon in one blow. Then Tungsten yawned and I saw his teeth under the full blaze of the sunlight. If I tried to go to the back of the dragon’s neck, then I would be eaten alive.

“No, no, no, not at all. The only person who can deal with an ogre is an ogre himself.” Tungsten grinned in a slightly crooked gesture. I could tell the giant was thinking about sending me to negotiate with the other ogres. The idea had sparked some desire within me. I had never in met another ogre beside me in my entire life. Tungsten’s idea had filled with me more than just nervousness, for he also sparked a desire within the deepest reaches of my mind. In my entire life, I never though I would meet another of my own kind.

“You may leave my presence now Mort. Your friends will be waiting one of the hills not far from here. It is about a three hour journey for an earthbound creature like you to get there. I hope they enjoy the world we dragons have sculpted.” Tungsten munched on some more fruit and I turned away to begin my trek back to my friends. Hopefully Lebanner was still alive and hadn’t gotten himself killed.
***

“I will kill you gnome.” The strange walrus like man grabbed Lebanner by the neck and was shaking him. The creature was a Tuskarr, one of the rare beastial people of Azeroth. It was basically like a fat human with the head of a walrus. There were many other creatures within this world than dragons. My time here had shown a diverse array of life and rock formations. The backgrounds were able to change so quickly. One minute, I am in Tungsten’s home with a hot and humid climate and a few hours later, my feet were freezing. I was glad that I still had my coat.

“What seems to be the problem sir?” I asked with a heavy sigh. I knew Fedor was going to screw up somehow. I know that it is wrong to judge someone before they had done anything, but I have grow accustomed to Lebanner falling into trouble and later having to bail him out of trouble. The Tuskarr seemed as though he were ready tear Lebanner’s head off.

“This cheat played me with dice that roll five every single time. I was able to figure out that it was because one side of the dice was heavier than the others. This gnome owes me my money back.” He bellowed loudly. He shook Lebanner with every sentence. The gnome was almost choking.

“How much does he owe you?” I rumbled heavily.

“Seventy silver coins.” He answered. I reached into my pockets and withdrew five silvers and fifteen coppers.

“Lebanner, give him his money back.” I rubbed my head.

“He can’t, he spent all of it on candy, which he ate.” The tuskarr roared.

“You spent seventy silvers on candy.” I raised an eyebrow at the gnome. “Just take my money for now. I will pay the rest of the cash when I can.”

“Well, alright, but I better get paid in three days or I am having gnome for breakfast.” The tuskarr took the money and left. I grabbed Lebanner and walked down the streets of Tungstenburg. The area was quite cold with snow in every nook and cranny. There were people of tuskarr and ice troll races trading with each other. There were even some dragons in the crowd. There was also the occasionally rare giant spider, but I ignored them. It was a nice town with simple and loving folk.

Then the bell rang and I stopped moving. Lebanner and I watched as all the shops closed down and everyone began to hide. I wondered what was so scary and then the creature. Over the hill a regiment of ogre warriors came into view. These creatures were bigger than me for sure, but I still showed no fear. The other ogres seemed far more gruesome than I expected. Many had shaved faces and some even wore tattoos.

Their leader was a male with a giant battle axe. He stood tall above the others. He was definitely taller than me and the sight of the other ogre filled me with dread. He wore red armor and his body was built for punishment. The other ogres were gathered around and created a decent sized force. His pale yellow skin shined as he came right to me.

[Silencers]

tch, cliffhanger. Hehe, can't wait.

[Inquisistor7]

As Cenarius once said: "Let battle be joined!"

Interesting as always. Also, it seems that Lebannar has a knack for bringing out people's anger.

[Bullroarer]

“I must be going blind. Either I am seeing a human noble with the face of an ogre. Or I am seeing an ogre dressed up as one of those pretty human dolls.” The leader of the small horde snorted. He stank worse than one of Vargas’s botched experiments. His teeth were grimy and unattended. He smelled like blood stains, rotten corpses, and every other abominable smell imaginable. I had never met another of my kind, but the desire had always burned. The hunger to see another ogre was a part of my very soul. I often looked into my reflection in a bowl of water and wondered how other ogres looked. I wondered who my father was and who my mother was. I was always incomplete. I yearned to know my history, to know my culture and to know my people. If the other ogres were not so filthy, I would have touched them.

“My name is Mort Thresh. I was sent here by Prince Tungsten. I am here to speak to you about your business here.” I tried to speak to the great ogre before me. Lebanner was hiding behind my leg in an attempt to avoid their attention. The other ogre acted as though he had not heard my words. His crass fingers went over my coat slowly, as if he could not believe it was real, nor could he not help noticing my greased and combed hair. He stared at me from one end to another.

“I know who you are. Tungsten already told me about you. You’re Vargas’s boy. That overgrown frost lizard has been trying everything to save his scaly hide. Now he sends a child dressed in the form of a fragile human. Bah, it is a disgrace.” The ogre captain grumbled as the clouds parted in the distance. I became worried as the other ogres began to surround me. There were about twenty of them and all were trained warriors. I had no weapons and their over-muscled bodies would not even need weapons to dispatch me. Their clear eyes showed malevolence I had only witnessed in the eyes of Vargas.

“You can come with us. Our camp is not far from here. Bring the gnome along. We could always use a good meal.” The big ogre chuckled as he hefted his battle axe over his shoulder. The toughened mass of his body could easily support the weapon as if it were a toy. The armor covering his body must have weighed many pounds, yet none of it bothered him. His threat against Lebanner almost made my blood boil. His arrogance and disrespect deserved a solid fist in the gullet.

“I am not going with you and Lebanner is just leaving.” I grunted at the unwilling gnome.

“I am not leaving…” Lebanner was about to talk until my glance silenced him.

“Not now Fedor, I am telling you to leave. I promise nothing is going to happen, just find Racal and the crab. I want all of you to go to the Prince and tell him about this meeting, understood.” I said firmly as I a placed a giant hand upon my friend’s shoulder. I could feel him trembling under the weight.

“You can count on me Mort. I’ll be back with the rest.” The gnome squeaked and with a snap of his fingers a cloud of smoke appeared where Lebanner had once been. From that puff of smoke a falcon arose and sailed out into the sky. I could see the other ogres simply gazing at Lebanner in astonishment. One tried to fire an arrow, but the weapon mad poor aim. Lebanner rose to the heavens and flew towards the setting of the sun. Indeed, I wished that I had Lebanner’s talent for magic sometimes.

“Well spoken young one, but my men are still eager for some sport. That gnome there would have been grand. I guess you will have to suffice for now.” The ogre leader chuckled as he put away his battle axe. His jowls vibrated as the harsh sound of his laughter penetrated my ears. This was highly unusual, but I guess it must be an ogre tradition.

“I don’t understand.” I answered honestly. I truly had no idea what they had intended for entertainment. Perhaps the ogres had a game of welcoming. My eagerness easily leaked out, but I did not care. The ogres probably had a ritual game that was part of my own ancient customs. These foul mouthed creatures were my brothers. Surely they would not harm me.

The lead ogre cracked his knuckles at me and stepped forward. He and his man carefully stepped approached me from all sides. Maybe this was a pre game tradition, perhaps a tradition practiced by my long forgotten family.

Without warning, the ogre leader drove his fist into my belly. The very wind had been knocked out of my lungs. In my entire life, I had never felt a punch that was so strong. I could actually feel some of my cracked ribs strain as I tried to stand. The sheer force of the blow had forced me to get onto my knees. The other ogres around me laughed and clacked their weapons. I could hear several words around me. Some of the words were quite unbelievable. These ogres were my brothers, my fellow race. How could they strike me like an enemy.

He dragged me up by the elbow. His coiled and iron fingers twisted the joint until it almost broke. I could see the faces of the other ogres. Their pony tail hairs dripping from the top of their heads like the spittle dripping from their mouths sent a chill up my bone. They acted as though they were a wolf pack. Their alpha male was simply having a good time showing me to the others. They laughed as I suffered. My own people, my long lost kindred spirits. The ones I have always dreamt of finding were treating me less than an animal.

“Do you want to join us now child?” The leader announced.

“No.” I grunted back.

“Your choice.” He laughed as he pushed me into another ogre. This one grabbed me by the arm and delivered a solid blow to my nasal with an upraise fist. I coughed out blood all over the street as I fell back into the arms of another ogre.

This one had, but one eye on his face. I glanced into his remaining orb and searched for the light of compassion. Sadly, none lived within the obsidian black pupil. He stared at me as one would look upon an insect. He slapped me with the back of his hand, the same way a human would slap a disobedient canine. It was more humiliation than pain, which lived in my heart after that blow.

How often had I imagined seeing my people again in my mind? I used to have dreams of finding my ogre parents and my people. I dreamt that they were the most gracious people in the history of the world. I dreamt that they would take me in. I thought they would be happy to find a forgotten child and offer that child dignity. I imagined that my people were a proud race of people, beyond all the other races. I saw them in my mind as a people wiser than the elves, more genius than the gnomes, more clever than the humans, more honorable than the minotaurs and more cunning than the trolls.

Reality struck me again in the broken nasal once more. More blood stained the ground and the other ogres around me simply laughed. I did not see the philosophers, scientists, heroes and dealers my brain had sired. All I saw were big dumb brutes, who only took pleasure in my torture based upon sins from a war that had occurred long before I was ever born. They struck without mercy or honor and their methods were absolutely disgusting.

I was no match for one of them, but they all wanted some fun. When I was rolling upon the ground, someone took the aim to deliver a sharp kick to my back. I stumbled onto my face and they began to stomp on my back in an attempt to shatter me. They stomped me in my back as I screamed for mercy. There was no honor among them. They took pleasure in my anguish the same as a beast of burden would feel. I screamed as my own back stretched from the overwhelming pain. “Please, no more.”

“Did you hear that, the child is now begging?” The leader laughed sarcastically. The others grunted and began whispering.

“I can’t take much more.” I moaned in my exhaustion. “Please brothers, I ask you from one ogre to another. Show me your hand of kindness.

“You just don’t understand, but I guess I should do it quick.” The leader grunted. He took out a small saw blade from his intricate armor. He yanked me around until my hand was back on the ground. He slowly began to saw into the flesh of my wrist. He began to separate skin from muscle and the slow motion only increased my pain. I howled, but it only made the sawing more painful

“Just giving you something to remember me by. My name is Halakar. Today I am showing you what happens to those who disobey me.” The ogre leader roared as the hand was completely sawed off. My left hand was completely gone. It had always been there and now it was gone. I screamed as tears drenched my face. I cried like a helpless baby, crying out for Vargas the ogres left me in a pool of my own blood. My first encounter with my own people had cost every last shred of dignity I ever had.

My own race had cut off my own hand. The torn segment of my body spewed blood and other juices. The white bone could be seen from within. Halakar raised the hand to all his men and they whooped in respect. I was lying helpless while they were busy celebrating. They treated the hand like it was the claw of a slain dragon. The beating stopped and all of them left without giving me the slightest aid. Halakar finally roared, “ Tell the Prince that I am not leaving and those who do not flee shall taste my sword. You are an example of what I intend for your master. I hope you deliver thte message.

Climbing to my base, I began to walk with the blood pouring out of my wound. Grabbing the gash, I cried out loud, “Is there a healer in this city. Is there a healer in this city?”

[BraveLiver]

Mistakes here and there, but otherwise an exciting chapter. I could never picture an ogre with a bow...

[Inquisistor7]

Man, not only were his childhood perceptions shattered, but he also lost a hand. I wonder what will happen next...

[TheNewHorde]

I finally sees what kind of guy you are, bullroarer. The body part losing permanently type of guy. You make Anubarak loss a leg, or should I say Arak Nerub loss a leg. And now ur making him loss a hand, how very violent of you.

But I like the story anyways. Keep writing! :bigclap: :bigclap:

[Bullroarer]

Awakening to the light of morning, I found myself in Tungsten’s grove once more. The fleeting shadows of the weary night, passing beyond the trees, gave me a little heart. Grunting heavily, I was able to crawl up to my knees. I don’t know how I came here, but it was better than where I had met the other ogres. How could I have been so foolish to trust such complete strangers? My own brethren treated me less than an animal. They treated me as though I were rubbish between the toes. The ache of my arm made me scream as I tried to move. Had I already forgotten my missing hand, the hand, which my own brethren were using as a trophy?

I look down at the stump to see everything bandaged, a few traces of blood poked out of the cotton wrappings. Obviously someone had taken the time to heal my body while I was unconscious. The pain was still there. It flowed through me as a river flows through the mountain. I could not help, but let tears fall down my cheeks. It was the act of a coward and a child, but the torment was just too great. I fell to my knees at the base of an apple tree.

Burying my face into the bark, I wept. I let my pain give life into the tree. Rivulets of water broke forth and I hid my weakness in shame. Life was always harsh for me, but at that point I realized that I was a coward. The truth was more painful than the burning of the joint where my wrist had once been. Only a coward would cry after getting wounded. Only a coward would cry after he battled.

I am no warrior and I had deluded myself into thinking I was something I really was not. I should have sought a different course in life than to go adventuring for some unknown destiny that I probably would never achieve. The other ogres had laughed at me. They ridiculed me and looked down upon me. It is good that Vargas was not here, he would probably give me sixty lashes for every tear that he saw drip from my orbs.

“Quit your bellyaching weakling. I never saw a crybaby ogre in my entire life.” I turned my head up to see a human, or what looked like a human. I would know her anywhere. Of all the people who would see me fall so far, why did it have to be her? After all the things I had to overcome, why could she not leave me alone? Her very existence was infuriating and her attitude was insufferable.

“Leave me alone, demon spawn!” I bellowed angrily as I threw an apple at the mist dragoness. It was a weak and feeble toss, but my heart was consumed in hatred. Blinded by my inner fury and shame, I began throwing fruit after fruit at her. She dodged them with ease. My throws were disoriented and very slow. She did not even have to move for some of the tosses.

“I knew you were pathetic, Mort. I didn’t know how pathetic you really were until now.” She laughed a little more. The image of Fidalia, was replaced with the image of the other ogres. She was one of them, mocking me and making a joke out of me. How dare they? How dare they break my peace? I am not an animal. I am not rubbish. I am not dirt. She was just another monster.

The burning inferno began to rise once more. I released the monster within me and the hunger was let loose. I saw Fidalia, for what she really was. She was meat. Plump, juicy meat and blood was all she really was. Beyond the magic, she was no different from cattle. She was food. She was nourishment. She was prey.

“Mort, why are your eyes red?” She lifted an eyebrow and began to step away. I bellowed once more and grabbed the tree by the base. It was a twig. It was an obstacle in my way to my prey. I tore the tree from the ground as roots and dirt filled the air. Fidalia gave a slight scream as she plummeted from the tree and fell to her back with a thud. The prey was right in front of me. Prey. Attack. Kill. Devour.

“That is it, you deserve to be frozen.” She roared in that thunderous voice that she first spoke in. It mattered little to me. I sprang towards her with unbelievable grace. Her blast of icy mist struck me in mid air, but I shrugged it off. The mist was just another obstacle in between my prey. In fact, the mist was only a little chilly. Pushing through the vapors, I came trampling towards my victim. I would smash her to bits. I would drink her blood. I would suck the marrow from her bones. I would rip and chew her muscles.

The claws slashed at me. Her long nails grew and began to slash at my chest. How dare the prey attack me? I am the predator. I must feed upon her blood. With every cut, the rage and fury grew. The lust for blood grew. The desire to kill her burned within me, like a passion long forgotten. The hunger drove me forward through the vines and falling pears. Amid smashed pineapples and lychees, I could see her.

I jumped into the bushes, beyond her sight. Through the darkness of the underbrush I could see her. Her fear made her senses go strangely. She knew I was close, but she did not know how close. Like a mad beast, she fired blast after blast into the woods. Shards of ice came close to cutting me, but her aim was very poor. I gave a slight growl and saw the shake of fear within her. She looked through the darkness, but I knew she could not see me.

Through the grove she finally ran. I stalked her through the trees. I made my moves quiet and subtle. I made every move cloaked within the vines. This felt so natural. I am what I should have been. I was born to kill. That was my purpose in this world. I would kill my enemy and her body would make me stronger. She finally tripped over one of the roots. She would become a part of me.

I finally leaped through the air towards my prey. She was finally mine. Then a solid reptilian hand grabbed me from mid-air. How dare another creature, keep me from my prey. The great reptilian claw gripped me hard and I felt the hunger roar once more. Screaming and howling like a berserker wolf, I struggled within the reptilian grasp, until the curtain of red finally dimmed. Exhausted and tired I gave up in the grip.

I had almost killed Fidalia. I had almost become a savage like the ogres I had met. I almost took a sentient life. What am I?

“Well it’s a good thing, you finally calmed down. You almost ripped Fidalia apart.” The prince announced to me. His face was serious and he looked me in the eye. “You have to learn how to hold that primal ogre thirst for blood down. I don’t want to tell you this twice, ogre. This is my kingdom and you will not harm my subjects. Either you will control your instincts or I will control them for you.”

“You see sir. He is unfit to work among us. He deserves the pain of my claws.” Fidalia looked at me with look of utter loathing.

“You already gave him the pain of your claws and it barely did anything. Besides this is my grove. Don’t play innocent with me, Fidalia. I was watching what happened. You wanted Mort’s reaction. If anything, you should thank Mort.” The prince snorted.

“Thank him for what?” She spoke back.

“Well now you know never to ridicule a wounded male teenage ogre, going through his cycle of change.” The prince answered, “Come, your gnome, elf and crab are anxious to meet you again, Mort.”

[Inquisistor7]

Mort's transition from criticism of the orgres to his becoming like them was done fairly well. It will be interesting to see how much these "changes" play in Mort's development throughout the story.

[yunn]

I'm just lucky to have happened to click on this thread. Or not I would not have discovered this gem of a story. Wow. Respect.

[KrewL RaiN]

Wow j00 are an awesome writer this is teh funkz0rzzz :y-thumbsu

Yay caffine wore away teh sleepyz comith......evil pepsi .RAR :lol:

[Silencers]

Wow. Unchain the beast within.

[yunn]

Wow. Fellow countryman. Now there are three, yay. We rule.



P.S. Sorry for thread-hijacking. Won't do it again. It's just rare to find another one of my people.

[Bullroarer]

“So you gave the dragoness a little scare?” Lebanner smirked. Racal and the gnome had been trying to cheer me up ever since Tungsten dragged me away from Fidalia. They were worried about my hand. They didn’t see me when I had become consumed in hatred. They did not see me when I was trying to kill the hybrid. I had never in my life attacked another creature with such malice. Indeed, I was an ogre. I had been raised and groomed my entire life. I had seen the monster within and I had tried to bury him beneath books, civilized clothing and other things. I thought I was above my primal instincts, but in the end I was no better than Halakar. I was a monster.

“I say we make a dash for it. If anything, Mort just showed we can take her. She’s not so tough. She’s all smoke and no fire. The portal cave is just a few miles away.” Racal muttered in his low breath as he stroked the back of Hammer. Racal had been thinking of ways to leave for a while. He still kept his sense of honor, but now he was beginning to doubt whether the dragons really deserved his honor.

“Then what, Fidalia hunts us down. I caught her by surprise just like the scorpion. She won’t fall for it a third time and we all know it. No, we are going to stay.” I grunted and stomped my foot into the flame, killing the flames of our encampment. The full moon rose in the night sky above the side of the mountain. For all I knew, the dragons were still watching us in the rocky crags. “No, I say we fight and do what we came here to do.”

Racal nodded in agreement, the elf never passed up the chance to test his skills in battle. His sense pride would not let him leave. The elf would either emerge a warrior in life or in his grave. Lebanner on the other hand was acting quite ridiculous. I knew he would become frantic. The same old Lebanner attitude of turning away from the fight began to appear, “Are you two crazy, did you see what those ogres did to Mort’s hand. These ogres mean business. Two chops and we’re all dead. Besides, they’re all trained warriors. I am a beginner mage. You are a crippled ogre, Racal is a beginning warrior and Hammer is an over sea salad. What can we do?”

“Not we, Hammer.” I grinned as an idea began boil at the top of my brain.

“I don’t understand how crab cake over here is going to stop an army of ogres.” Lebanner said in his usual confusion.

“Think about what Tungsten said. These are not just ogres that we face. There are also centaurs and goblins that we have to deal with.” I answered slyly as the plan began to bubble with full steam. My enemies would not know what hit them. I maybe just another ogre, just another savage, but I still had my brain. I knew the perfect way to defeat him. I would humiliate Halakar, just as he humiliated me. I would destroy him from the inside out.
***

Deep within the soil, the four of us watched the mighty crab dig through soil and root. He dug through the layers of both damp and hard soil. The continuous digging of the crab was moving. It was a machine, ripping out the organs of the earth’s body. Claws, legs and jaws methodically removed everything from hard rock, to tender underground vegetation. All crabs had the ability to burrow. Robber crabs, blue crabs, fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, red crabs, and every other species of crab. That was the main purpose crabs had claws in the first place. Nature had designed them to create holes to hide from predators and pick flesh apart. Burrowing was part of their instincts.

The crab crushed, crunched and ripped through the solid masses. The ongoing movement of exoskeleton created a sort of hypnotic trance. It was not like watching a hound dig for a rabbit. It was more like watching a mighty steam powered gnome machine. No grunting from the labor. No sweat gleaming off from the back. No sign of weariness or tiring. It was a wonder other armies had not employed crabs in their service.

The ogres would not know what would hit them. Tungsten wanted me to be a negotiator. I had failed in that area, but I would not fail here. I was dressed up heavy leather outfits similar to other ogres. My entire chest was covered in leather straps, making me look more fearsome. My rented pants were that of deerskin. A crude and ridiculous metallic hook stood where my stub had once been. I looked every inch the savage ogre warrior.
***

There were only two centaurs in my eyesight. They were bestial like people. They wore not even the slightest shred of clothing. Bare-chested and sporting good sized beards, they were truly a sight. They were like humans from the torso and up. Long brunette hair, dangling from the scalp and peach like skin covered with some body hair gave them a feeling of awe. They were muscular, but much slimmer than an ogre. From the torso and down they were like a horse. One had a lower body, very elegant and thin. This one had white fur. The other had a more bulky lower body. Deep brown fur and black splotches were all over his hind quarters. The large brown was armed with a sturdy long lance, while the white fur had, but a meager cross bow. The centaurs were sitting in their encampment, chewing meat around a campfire. A tinge of guilt washed over me. Was I not doing the same thing with Lebanner and Racal not too long ago?

Summoning the fire within, I leaped through the darkness at the slender centaur. My hook caught the creature behind the back of the head. He did not even have time to defend himself. The hook made a whooshing sound and then struck with a squishy little noise. The back of the spurted some blood in my face, but it did little to phase my concentration. I was glad that I did not have to see the front of his face. With a might jerk, the head was torn of his shoulder. An entire fountain of blood splattered out and the head hung from the tip of my hook. The other centaur just stared at me as though he could believe what just happened.

“What in the bloody…” The large brown yelped as it dawned on him what just happened. Before, he could move a thin knife was pressed below his throat. His lance was still low on the ground. With one gesture I could easily condemn the centaur to his death, but I needed him alive. I was dressed as one of Halakar’s men. It was obvious to see the thoughts rushing through stallions mind.

“Go tell your brethren that the deal is off. Ogre land is ogre land. Ogre money is ogre money.” I dangled the bleeding head of his companion in front of his face. The centaur’s face turned into a hateful grimace. The look of utter rage filled his soul. I could see the pain twisting in his facial expression. With a nod, Racal disappeared into the darkness with the centaur’s lance, before the centaur could get a good look at the elf. The stallion rode into the darkness. Word would spread of the ogre that tore the head off a centaur. My plan was going smoothly. Victory was in my grasp, but looking at the head on my hook, I wonder how much it will cost me.

“Let’s get back to the tunnel and bury our entrance here. There is plenty of more work to do tonight.” I grunted and passed my friends. I would never tell them, but part of me felt excited. The other part of me was filled with disgust.

[TheNewHorde]

Interesting, though still doesn't seem to be better than Arak Nerub. I still found the story very interesting. It sounds like an FFA game that you see in WC3, where you mislead your enemy thinking it was another enemy and lead them to fight each other while you pick out the rest of the bones. I'm very curious about how this plan will effect them or how the plan will fail. I always enjoys interesting twists.

P.S. Bull, how are we able to know how you feel of your own stories if you never comments on your own story and just keep on writing?

[Inquisistor7]

NH, I'm pretty sure that BR is very busy(he doesn't come around as often as he once did). I am willing to bet that he has his hands full with school, and so has little time to do more than just post updates to his story.

Anyway, Bull, your imagination and skill never cease to amaze me. There are some grammatical errors, but the story is good. I think, though, that I agree with NH: this isn't as good a Arak Nerub. The only reason I say that is because in Arak Nerub we were given a look into the nerubians, who are rarely written about. But don't get me wrong: this story is good.

[TheNewHorde]

WOW! The great and mighty and all knowledgable Inquisistor7 agrees with me! (Well... He isn't mighty and all knowledgable... but he is great, a great guy. Or a great girl... doesn't matter, all I know is that Inquisistor7 is homo.) By the way, while Flak was teaching me English, he pointed out something important. You spelled Inquisistor wrong, it's inquisitor, not inquisistor. Do you know where Flak is? It's been a while since I seen him. (about two days.)

[Inquisistor7]

1. I don't know where Flak is.
2. I am well aware that my name is misspelled.

[TheNewHorde]

Inquisistor and I are getting married!!! ......not
But I do want someone to spend their time with me, not marriage, but just as friends, to hang out with me, either on AIM or something else, I just want a friend...
And the married thingy was a bad joke, so ignore it.

That was a really bad joke indeed... I mean that was so wrong, Inquisistor is homo, I'm straight, it'll never work out between us...

[PissingPanther]

Isn't Inquisistor7 a girl? Im confused.

[Flak]

Inquisistor and I are getting married!!! ......not
But I do want someone to spend their time with me, not marriage, but just as friends, to hang out with me, either on AIM or something else, I just want a friend...
And the married thingy was a bad joke, so ignore it.

That was a really bad joke indeed... I mean that was so wrong, Inquisistor is homo, I'm straight, it'll never work out between us...

-I've been around dude.
-Inq lives god knows where, you live god knows not where. I just don't see the commute happening.
-I'm on AIM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, unless I'm on a secret account or downloading anime.
-Yes, it was a bad joke. A very bad joke.
-Inq is NOT homosexual. If you mean that as an insult, I suggest you retract it NOW.
-You're right it'll never work out.


...poor NH. :y-pet:

[Bullroarer]

I watched as centaur slew ogre and ogre slew centaur. The two that had banded against the dragons had turned on one another and pretty soon the gnomes were joining in. The battle was going just as I had planned. The enemy was divided, but conquest would have to wait. My plans to get back at those who took my hand would have to be planned out, like a well placed explosion. Glancing upward to the see the skies filled with arrows and explosions then I drew a deep breath. “Let’s go Lebanner, our time is short.”

“You have that right boy, you have caused too much trouble.” A cold voice blew passed me. For a moment I believed I had turned to stone, but slowly I began to feel my pulse once more. Racal and Hammer both went into a striking stance. Lebanner whirled out his mages staff. With a mighty grunt I picked up a wooden club with spikes on the end. We all turned to face our opponent, but there was nothing to be seen.

“Mort, lets get out of here. This place gives me the chills.” Racal shivered a little as he held an arrow on the string. I had to agree with Racal, something was amiss with out situation. I could feel it in my bones. Something was watching me. It was the same instincts I had in my battle with the scorpion. Somehow I knew when something was going to strike. A feeling of outrage welled up inside, but lifted my bottom lip in defiance.

“I am afraid it is too late for that dear little gnome. My plan to conquer the dragon’s realm has been completely wrecked because of you four. My minions are in complete disarray, but I will make you pay and none of you shall live past today.” The voice giggled childishly.” Annoyed, I swung in direction where I had heard the voice. Striking nothing, but spacious air, I drew back.

“Oh well, I so wanted to play. Business before pleasure I guess.” The voice drew a sigh and from the darkness, lavender light beamed down to the earth. Within the dark, a mysterious being began to grow. Covered by the cloak of night the being made itself known to us. Skin of the brightest blued adorned the creature’s skin. He looked almost human or elvin had it not been for the great ram-like horns coming out of his thick skull. I saw the being in all his power under the light of lavender beam from the sky.

A horned demon with bright red wings stood before me. He would have been what the human females refer to as handsome, had it not been for the horns atop of his head. He looked at me in all his darkness and I knew in my heart that I wanted to die. I would rather be dead than have those eyes stare at me as if his mere glance could destroy my spirit. Dressed in blue armor with circular plates, the creature gestured with his finger to make me come forward. Against their own will, my knees walked on their own accord towards him and dropped before his feet.

“I wonder what Vargas ever saw in you. You are such a fragile and weak being, yet you have single handedly stopped my entire invasion force with a costume, a digging beast and two other companions.” I wanted to stand up, but I feared his gaze. Closing my eyes, I wished for him to just go away. I knew he wanted to kill me and what was worse, I was going to let him.

“Back to the inferno with you!” Lebanner shouted as he zapped a bright lance of light at the creature. Whatever the being was, he disappeared without a trace.

“Lebanner, you just defeated a demon?” Racal stood astounded.

“No, that was just a projection of him, copy of the original. If he were really here, we would all be dead. We should return to Tungsten’s grove. Whatever that thing was, he is after you Mort.” Lebanner grumbled.

Looking behind myself in fear, I reluctantly agreed with Lebanner. Whatever that creature was, it knew Vargas, my master

[Inquisistor7]

Good as always. I like the direction of this work, and I hope to see more. Now, for some specific comments (and don’t let my critiques cause you to forget that I like this story).

My plans to get back at those who took my hand would have to be planned out, like a well placed explosion.

To have “plans” as the subject and to have “planned” modifying it seems to me.

Glancing upward to the see the skies filled with arrows and explosions then I drew a deep breath.

Grammatically, this might not even be a sentence. If you were to drop the “then” and replace it with a comma it would be, but as it stands the clause “Glancing upward to see the skies filled with arrows and explosions” is a fragment. Also, you used the word “explosion” in the previous sentence, and it feels a little redundant.

For a moment I believed I had turned to stone, but slowly I began to feel my pulse once more.

Sentences like this help to give one a good idea of what Mort is going through. Often you provide such sentences in your first person narratives, and I find them satisfying to say the least.

mages

This should be in the possessive, not the plural. Not a big deal.

Striking nothing, but spacious air, I drew back.

You don’t need the first comma.


“Oh well, I so wanted to play. Business before pleasure I guess.” The voice drew a sigh and from the darkness, lavender light beamed down to the earth. Within the dark, a mysterious being began to grow. Covered by the cloak of night the being made itself known to us. Skin of the brightest blued adorned the creature’s skin. He looked almost human or elvin had it not been for the great ram-like horns coming out of his thick skull. I saw the being in all his power under the light of lavender beam from the sky.

Nice descriptions. A few things are off, though. First, “Covered by the cloak of night” should have a comma after it, and in the sentence following , the word “blue” is misspelled. Also, in the last sentence, you need a “the” before lavender. Also, in this paragraph and in the one following you use the phrase type of “he would have been ___ had it not been for ____” twice. I don’t really mind, but given the proximity of the paragrahps and their brevity I am not sure if it the best thing. Just thought I’d let you know.

Against their own will, my knees walked on their own accord towards him and dropped before his feet.

Good use of personification.

Thanks for sharing your works with us Bull. I am sure that I am not alone when I say that you are a talented and enjoyable writer.

[Silencers]

Haha I enjoyed the chill in the air very much. A dreadlord, eh? Nicely done as always BR!

[Bullroarer]

New chapter tomorrow.

[Bullroarer]

Leaving his friends behind, Mort walked outside of Tungsten’s garden by himself. There were two many questions upon his mind. There were so many unknown questions within his mind that needed to be answered. Though he was handicapped, his body could handle any amount of punishment. Lost in the world with no real purpose, Mort searched for himself. Too many things had gone wrong, yet so much was going correctly. The equation was working perfectly, for the enemy had turned upon itself. According to Tungsten, they would soon be driven off.

Mort settled down upon a large rock in the forest near a pond. He looked down into the pond and took a deep look at himself. His greased down hair was more high class than the average humans. His buttoned up coat was a luxury many did not even have. His trousers were something most ogres probably never wore. He even wore shoes. ‘What kind of an ogre am I?’ he wondered. The reflection in the pool was disrupted by a tiny pebble.

He had advanced so far in his life, from a mere servant to a saboteur. He yawned at the strange moon within the land of mist dragons. He looked within the night and wondered what was going to happen. Vargas had made him a blood oath and a blood oath was hard to break. He felt a bit sad, but he would have to leave the gnome and the elf. Already they had risked their lives enough. It was time for him to strike out on his own.

Where was his place in the world? Where did he belong? The thoughts just bunched around in his head. He was not a warrior, or mage or soldier. In a strange world and a strange place, far from Azeroth with unknown stars new opportunity would abound. Here he could grow. By the time his friends find his note, he would be far gone. They would respect his decision to leave. Mostly, he would miss Lebanner. The gnome’s antics were a great loss to the young ogre.

“Who am I?” Mort cried to the silent stars above. “Am I some sort of freak that was never meant to be? I have an ogre’s body, but not an ogre’s mind. I am an outcaste among my own people. Where do I belong? Tell me, if there is any great power that can hear me. Shall I die alone with no one by my side? Shall be forgotten from the pages of history? Shall I be a slave to a master with a cruel? Shall become a savage barbarian like the rest of my kin? Tell me, some one please tell me! Is there no mercy in the universe, nor any justice?”

Mort took a deep breath and stopped talking to himself and decided there was one last connection to the past he had to sever. Drawing a black stone from his pocket, Mort looked into the air. He took the stone and threw it into the water. He waited for a few seconds and the water started to boil. Bubbles burst forth with glints of moonlight within the water. The water began taking shape as it piled up in a pillar. It slowly took the shape of a hooded man. The figure turned to Mort and bright red eyes stared into the ogre’s soul.

“Well, why have you contacted me?” Vargas boomed. All his life Mort had feared this day, but he choked down and swallowed his courage. He stared at Vargas as he had done so many times in his mind and dreams. This was the day that the chains would fall from the hound’s collar. Mort knew in his hear the time had come.

“I quit!” Mort shouted and the word rolled from his tongue like honey. He was afraid, but he felt so enlightened in his heart. A weight on his shoulder had been caste off. He shouted once more, “I quit, I quit, I quit, I bloody damn QUIT!!!”

“You what?” Vargas was a bit surprised.

“You heard me. The deal is off. You always told me about honor and keeping my word. Well you are a liar, so what type of honor did you ever have. You tortured me as a child and bullied me into doing your bidding. Well guess what, I quit. You can’t make me do a damn thing. If I want to waste my life fishing, then I will do so. If I want to waste my life cleaning gutters, then I will do so. It is my life and you have no control over me.” Mort laughed.

“You ungrateful beast.” Vargas’s eyes narrowed. A giant ball of flaming rock came out of Vargas’s left eye. The rock landed right beside Mort in a beautiful explosion of color. Slowly the rock began to take form. It grew a head and legs. It looked like a giant skeleton made of stone, then fire of green light burst from the creature’s joints and eyes. It was an infernal, a demon Vargas could control to do his bidding.

The infernal smashed a burning fist on Mort’s skull. The blow was strong enough to knock Mort off his feet and into the dirt. Carefully the inferno lifted Mort up and made him face the watery image of Vargas. The deep ruby eyes burned into Mort with hate and sour disappointment. Vargas was outraged beyond thought. Even as Mort felt his skin burn, a part of him was happy for making Vargas angry.

“Do you know what it took to raise you?” Vargas roared and the infernal shoved Mort’s face into a hard rock, drawing blood.

“I saved you from a fire and this is how you repay me?” Vargas shouted and the infernal struck Mort in the skull once more.

“I gave you the best education in the land and what do you do?” Vargas fumed and the infernal dumped Mort in a heap.

“So what is your answer?” Vargas asked.

“My answer is the same, I quit.” Mort answered and he grabbed the infernal by the legs and threw it at the image of Vargas. It passed through the watery image and struck a granite wall. The creature was destroyed and Vargas was a bit stunned.

“Hear me Mort, You made a big mistake today. No one breaks a deal with me, let alone a blood oath. I have ways of finding you and reaching you. Sooner or later, I will find you.” Vargas menaced and the image disappeared.

Mort leaped in joy as the image disappeared. Skipping down the road he kept singing, “I quit, I quit, I quit, I bloody damn quit. It feels so good to know that I finally have quit. I quit, I quit…”

Deep down in Mort’s heart he knew things were not over an ogre chief would soon be after him, the war would still continue and a dread lord had vowed to find him as well. The first chapter of Mort’s life had ended and in a new world, he would find a way to make his path.

[Silencers]

A very avant-garde scenario. I'd hate to imagine the terrors of a blood pact,

[Gorandius]

I have read the whole thing up until now and I have to say it is quite amazing. Character development is extroardinary and I personally liked the idea of Hammer joining them. You made Mort seem like the ogre version of Einstein....almost....ok, maybe not, but he's very clever on his part of how he turned the centaurs, ogres, and goblins on each other. I rarely poke my head in this forum, let alone read a story, but this story I have read has got to be brilliant.

I don't care about the small errors, because they don't get in the way of the story that often. Keep up the exquisite work, Bullroarer!

[Bullroarer]

sorry i can't update quickly, I have exams